Gate-9 is a Cypriot fans' group that supports the football team and other sport departments in AC Omonia.
History
Gate 9 was established on 25 October 1992, in Nicosia. The group was seated under the main clock of the Makario Stadium and later at the North stand. Today it is seated at the North stand of the GSP Stadium. Following the decision of Omonia's general assembly, to hand the football department over to businessman Stavros Papastavrou in May 2018, the group announced that it would no longer support the club's football department as it felt the decision went against the team's traditionally left wing ideals. The group stated that it will continue to support the club's other sport departments but will form its own football team, Omonia 1948.
Popularity and Ideology
Omonia is the most popular team in Cyprus. Omonia supporters are traditionally left wing. A 2009 gallop poll estimated that three out of four Omonia fans vote for the Progressive Party of Working People, the communist party of Cyprus. While the group retains its left wing beliefs, in recent years it has been openly critical of the party's involvement in the club's administrative decisions. The party has denied accusations that it influences club decisions. Gate-9 members are associated with communist beliefs and have been noted for waving banners bearing Che Guevara's portrait, and other communist symbols. The group is also involved in humanitarian work for refugees in Cyprus. The group, besides Nicosia, has fan clubs in Limassol, Larnaka and Paphos.
Violence
The group often engages in violent clashes with members of police or supporters of other teams. In November 2009 the group was involved in clashes with fans of local rivals APOEL FC that resulted in a serious injury of an APOEL fan. A basketball match in January 2012 was interrupted by the group entering the pitch. In March 2012 after a football match, the group caused damage to the GSP Stadium and injured 11 policemen. Another football match was interrupted by clashes between the group and Anorthosis Famagusta fans in June 2013. During a volleyball match in March 2014 rioting by Gate 9 led to 11 members of the group being arrested. Clashes occurred at the coastal city ofLarnaca on the 22nd of July 2014, between fans of Jagiellonia Białystok and Cypriots. Jagiellonia would face Omonia the next day for the Europa League qualifications. It was strongly hinted on social media by Gate 9 members that the group was involved in the clashes. On 18 May 2016 riots broke out outside the group's clubhouse in Nicosia between Gate 9 members and riot police. Later that day in Limassol around 20 members of the group were involved in clashes with fans of Apollon Limassol after the Cypriot Cup Final.
